On-Demand Webinars

Speakers

Brent Cameron
Professional Writing Specialist
Purdue University Writing Lab

Brent Cameron is a Professional Writing Specialist at the Purdue University Writing Lab. In 2022, he received his master’s degree in English Studies at East Carolina University (ECU), where he worked both as a Writing Center Consultant and an instructor of Record, teaching several sections of First-Year Writing and Writing in the Disciplines. Brent also worked as a teaching assistant in the Engineering Communications program at Virginia Tech, where he co-taught several undergraduate technical writing courses and tutored students on a one-to-one basis. Beyond having a passion for teaching writing (and writing in general), Brent’s scholarly interests include, Writing Across the Disciplines, Cultural Rhetorics, and 19th-century literature.

Matt Del Busto
Professional Writing Specialist
Purdue University Writing Lab

Matt Del Busto is a Professional Writing Specialist at the Purdue University Writing Lab. He received his MFA in poetry in 2022 from the University of Michigan, where he taught composition and creative writing. In 2022-23, he was a Postgraduate Fellow in Creative Writing at Michigan and taught composition at Washtenaw Community College, where he also was a faculty tutor in the writing center. He’s interested in nearly all things related to writing and the teaching of writing, most especially creative writing pedagogy, sustainable writing practices, and the intersection of academic and creative writing.

Speakers

Dr. Nia Adimu-Ceja Josiah, DNP, MSN, RN, PMHNP
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Columbia University School of Nursing
Jonas Scholar (2021-2023)

Dr. Nia Adimu-Ceja Josiah is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the Columbia University Medical Center and Columbia University School of Nursing. Dr. Josiah is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) graduate from Columbia University School of Nursing (CUSON) and a licensed Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatry. Dr. Josiah is a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA MFP/ANA Doctoral Fellow, Jonas Scholar, Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) scholar and CUSON Pathways to Leadership and Advancement in Nursing (PLAN) scholar.

Dr. Josiah serves as a nursing leader gaining over 10 years of professional, clinical experience in psychology and psychiatry combined, ranging from nursing research, teaching, serving in acute care facilities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, mentally disabled communities, respite-care, and palliative care. Dr. Josiah has gained professional and leadership experience in the medical field climbing the nursing ladder from a home health aide, certified nursing assistant, gerontologic assistant, medicine technician, mastered degree nurse, to now a DNP, PMHNP. Dr. Josiah’s doctoral training consisted of interning as a PMHNP, DNP conducting individual psychotherapy at Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services in Bronx, New York, intern at Four Winds Hospital in Katonah, New York conducting medication management and an outpatient intern for Dr. Fatima Ramos-Marcuse in Mamaroneck, New York conducting both medication management and psychotherapy.

Dr. Josiah has two years of experience in conducting simulation-based learning. She has honed the necessary skills in planning, preparation and execution of simulation-based healthcare training, education and execution. Dr. Josiah has led and assisted in researching technology and simulation best-practice training for CUSON faculty across disciplines. She completed the Essentials in Clinical Simulation Across the Health Professions course and received a certificate authorized by George Washington University.

Dr. Josiah has had the pleasure to teach nationally and internationally at Columbia University School of Nursing, and remote at GEC Academy in Shanghai, China. She has taught science of psychiatric/mental health nurse practice, evidence-based practice, scholarly writing and dissemination, health promotion and disease prevention, and general simulation lab to masters and doctoral degree students.

Dr. Josiah has expertise in forming, leading, and managing research teams as well as co-authored with over 20 PhD’s and DNP’s. Dr. Josiah’s research interests focus on addressing systemic drivers of racial health iniquities among marginalized patient populations. Dr. Josiah’s publications consist of peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed articles, systematic reviews, discursive papers, editorials, op-eds, nursing blogs, and poster presentations. Dr. Josiah uses her social justice advocacy to lobby nursing initiatives impacting marginalized populations at national and international workshops and on leadership panels.

Dr. Josiah currently serves as a Columbia University School of Nursing Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) Board Member, a Jonas Alumni Council Board Member, and an inducted member of Sigma Theta Tau International Society Nu Beta at Large chapter. Dr. Josiah serves on local, national, and international committees including: CUSON's anti-racism retention committee and BIPOC Deans’ Advisory Group as 2023 graduating class representative, co-founded sub-committee Umoja, ANA, SIGMA Nu Beta Chapter at-Large (Governance), International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses (ISPN) (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) committee and AACN Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GNSA committee member).

Currently, Dr. Josiah works in the outpatient setting in Mount Vernon, New York, operates her own private practice and volunteers at local homeless shelters.

Speakers

Blake Smith, MSN, RN
Immediate Past-President, American Association for Men in Nursing
Commissioner, Commission to Address Racism in Nursing, American Nurses Association
Communication Chair, Board of Directors, Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC)
Accelerated Student Success Coach, Nebraska Methodist College

Blake K. Smith, MSN, RN, serves as a Clinical Documentation Sr. Analyst at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, NE. He oversees quality improvement/informatics projects specializing in health literacy, plan of care, downtime procedures, and regulatory reporting for five partnered hospital systems across Nebraska. Smith is a visionary thought leader for diversity and inclusion volunteer advocacy work. He has presented globally on men’s health and underrepresented workforce inclusion issues in nursing, including as a leading session speaker at the International Council of Nurses (ICN) 2023 Congress in Montreal.

Smith recently finished his term as the youngest president of the American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN). He has advocated nationally for workforce inclusion for several years, serving on the national Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Steering Committee for AARP/Center to Champion Nursing in America. Smith serves on the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing (founding member) and is the national communications chair for the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC) Board of Directors.

Smith holds a bachelor’s in science degree in Exercise Science Research from Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, NE, in 2008, a BSN from Nebraska Methodist College in Omaha, NE, in 2012, and an MSN in Nursing Health Systems Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 2017.

Smith is proud to be a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (UAB Chapter), Golden Key International Honor Society (UAB Chapter), Phi Epsilon Kappa Honor Fraternity for Kinesiology (Nebraska Wesleyan Chapter), Zeta Psi Intercontinental Fraternity (Omicron Chapter), Sigma International (Nurse Leader Member/Tau Tau Chapter), American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN), National Black Nurses Association (NBNA), American Nurses Association, Nebraska Nurses Association, and the Omaha, NE Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Organization.

He also holds two prestigious recognitions, receiving the Horizon Lifetime Achievement Award from Nebraska Methodist College (2018), the University of Alabama at Birmingham Alumni Society’s Top 25 of Business Excellence (2023), and the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Visionary Leader Award (2022), given to only 130 other distinguished alumni in the school’s 72-year history.

Speakers

Emily Helbick, BSN
DNP Student
Jacksonville University

Emily is a registered nurse as well as a value-based population health management expert with 13 years of experience. Throughout a decade of working in and out of a critical care hospital setting, Emily has experienced shifts in healthcare culture and policy firsthand. She witnessed the trend towards poor healthcare quality with a focus on volume over value. It was at this point that she decided to pivot to a career focusing on value-based care and health system improvement. Emily is now employed by one of the largest and most successful Accountable Care Organization’s in the nation. As a clinical project manager, she spearheads the organization’s initiatives for optimizing the spend towards post-acute care and their provider network of high caliber specialists while increasing patient care quality. Her toolbelt includes the power of artificial intelligence and innovative predictive analytics to help satisfy these demanding initiatives.

Emily attained a Bachelor of Nursing Science from the University of New Hampshire and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Jacksonville University. Emily volunteers with a local LGBTQ+ community non-profit delivering preventative care services as an HIV awareness and screening counselor. In her free time, Emily loves to travel, scuba dive, and participate with international ocean and coral conservation programs.

Gemma O'Donnell
PhD Student
Arizona State University

Gemma O’Donnell, MSN, RN is a master’s prepared registered nurse. She is a PhD student in the Arizona State University Edson College School of Nursing, PhD in Nursing and Healthcare Innovation program. Her research interest is in exploring solutions for family caregivers of persons with dementia. She teaches undergraduate nursing students at Northern Arizona University’s School of Nursing, focusing on Gerontology, Palliative Care and Nursing Leadership. She has over 20 years of nursing experience serving the needs of patients with dementia at all stages and their family members.

Speakers

Elizabeth Kuzma, DNP, RN, FNP-BC
Clinical Associate Professor
University of Michigan

Elizabeth Kuzma, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, is a Clinical Associate Professor at University of Michigan's School of Nursing (UMSN) in the Health Behavior and Biological Sciences department. She is a Program Lead for their Adult-Gerontology and Family Nurse Practitioner Programs and serves as the Coordinator of the five Graduate Program Leads. As a Family Nurse Practitioner, she is committed to working with vulnerable and underserved populations, particularly at-risk, high ACE youth. Dr. Kuzma is an expert in providing holistic, trauma-informed primary care with cultural humility, including health promotion, disease prevention, management of minor acute and chronic conditions. Her research and scholarship focus includes a variety of adolescent health issues, particularly related to trauma, sexuality and gender identity, as well as integrating these content areas into NP education. She is actively involved and committed to professional and policy advocacy. She is a former past American Association for Nurse Practitioners (AANP) State Representative for Michigan, has served on the AANP Research Committee, and is currently serving on the AANP National Nominations Council.

Speakers

Julie Van Orne, MSN, RN, CPN, CNL
Nursing EBP/ QI Coordinator
Cook Children’s Medical Center

Throughout her nursing career, Julie has strived to improve the care of children with medical complexity. As a certified Clinical Nurse Leader, Julie has led multiple quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and research projects to advance the care pediatric patients and their families receive. In 2020, Julie began working on a Ph.D. in Nursing Science at Texas Woman’s University. Her dissertation will focus on sharing the lives of caregivers who care for children with a tracheostomy at home using photovoice. As Julie transitions into the role of a Nurse Scientist, she will collaborate heavily with a DNP counterpart to improve patient care and the clinical work environment at Cook Children’s Medical Center.

Kaylan Branson, MSN, RN, CPN, CNL
Director of Nursing Quality and Magnet
Cook Children’s Medical Center

Kaylan Branson is the Director of Nursing Quality and the Magnet Program at Cook Children’s Medical Center. Kaylan began her career as a nurse resident at Cook and has dedicated her clinical nursing career to improving the care of pediatric patients with medical complexity. Kaylan graduated with her master’s in nursing education in 2017 and received a post-master’s certificate as a certified Clinical Nurse Leader in 2019. Kaylan is pursuing her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. Kaylan’s doctoral studies have focused on improving nurse wellness in the clinical setting. In her role as nursing director, Kaylan believes in being a strong advocate for nurses and promoting nursing excellence by engaging frontline nursing in quality improvement activities that improve clinical outcomes and the care environment.

Speakers

Maja Djukic, PhD, RN, FAAN
Assistant Dean for Research
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Djukic joined the Cizik School of Nursing on Sept. 1, 2020, as the John P. McGovern Distinguished Associate Professor in the Department of Research. She is a widely published nurse scientist who has pioneered national research of new graduate nurses to identify key gaps in quality and safety competencies essential for high-value patient care. The more than $7 million in extramural funding she has secured in the past decade includes three current studies on which she serves as primary investigator that examine various issues affecting the nursing workforce.

Earlier in her career, Djukic received two prestigious career development awards – the Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Faculty Scholar Award and the Josiah Macy Junior Foundation Faculty Scholar Award. She was elected co-chair of the Interdisciplinary Group on Nursing Issues (IRGNI) at Academy Health and is currently an Associate Editor for the Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice journal.

Prior to joining Cizik School of Nursing, Djukic was an associate professor at New York University College of Nursing, where she earned a PhD in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing Education. She began her nursing career Oklahoma, receiving an Associate Degree in Nursing from Tulsa Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from North Eastern State University

Speakers

Varsha Singh, DNP, APN, NEA-BC, FAHA, FAANP
Manager Neurosciences/Stroke Program/Telestroke Specialist
St. Joseph’s Health System

Speakers

Brittany Hay, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, FNP-BC
Assistant Professor
University of South Florida

Dr. Brittany Hay is an assistant professor at the University of South Florida, lead director of the nurse practitioner concentrations, and director of the adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner concentration. She has extensive experience in the advanced practice nurse role caring for patients and families prior to becoming faculty. As a DNP, she has engaged in multiple successful systems level initiatives utilizing evidence-based practice and quality improvement approaches. Dr. Hay has advanced education and scholarship in diagnostic reasoning and teaching. She leverages competency-based educational strategies to support student development of the requisite knowledge, skills, and attitudes for successful contemporary practice.

Speakers

Marta Okoniewski, MPA
Director of Student Engagement
American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Marta Okoniewski, MPA, is the Director of Student Engagement at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). She led the development and launch of the GNSA, a national network providing high value programs, services, and resources to nursing students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs. Prior to joining AACN, Ms. Okoniewski worked as the Program Coordinator at New York University College of Nursing within the Academic and Clinical Affairs department. She received her master’s in public administration from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Scranton.